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CS/CS/HB 931 — Postsecondary Educational Institutions
by Education and Employment Committee; Higher Education Appropriations Subcommittee; and Rep. Roach and others (CS/SB 958 by Education Postsecondary Committee and Senator Perry)
This summary is provided for information only and does not represent the opinion of any Senator, Senate Officer, or Senate Office.
Prepared by: Education Postsecondary Committee (HE)
The bill requires the Board of Governors (BOG) to create a Committee on Public Policy Events and each state university to establish an Office of Public Policy Events, to organize, publicize, and stage debates, group forums, and lectures at each SUS institution that address, from multiple, divergent, and opposing perspectives, an extensive range of public policy issues widely discussed and debated in society at large. The bill requires each university to maintain a calendar and report to the BOG about such events.
The bill prohibits the use of political loyalty tests in a state university’s hiring, admissions, or promotion process, and provides a definition of such test. The bill authorizes the State Board of Education and the BOG to adopt rules and regulations, respectively, regarding implementation and penalties for non-compliance.
Additionally, the bill establishes the Florida Student Association (FSA) and its board of directors made up of the 12 student body presidents of the state universities. The bill requires the FSA to adopt bylaws to establish due process protections for the FSA president.
The bill extends to December 1, the date the State Board of Education and BOG, respectively, must annually compile and publish the Intellectual Freedom and Viewpoint Diversity survey results, starting in 2024.
If approved by the Governor, or allowed to become law without the Governor’s signature, these provisions take effect July 1, 2023.
Vote: Senate 33-5; House 82-34